TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers is all smiles before the regular season game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 23, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2004, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, talks with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after the Patriots 24-14 win during their AFC Championship game in Foxborough, Mass. The rivalry that defined much of Brady's career was the one he had with Manning. Brady won 11 of the 17 meetings, including the first time they met in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 07: Tom Brady is seen on December 07, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Stickman/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shakes hands with a fan as he leaves the field after losing an NFL wild-card playoff football game to the Tennessee Titans in Foxborough, in this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, file photo. Brady hasn't played an NFL football game in New England since Jan. 4, 2020. But remnants from his 20-year run with the Patriots remain everywhere in Foxborough. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2012, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates his 19-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Denver Broncos in Foxborough, Mass. Brady had one of his most prolific playoff games at home on Jan. 14, 2012, when he and the Patriots ended Tebow Mania. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady yells as enters the field for warmups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates his touchdown catch from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Foxborough, Mass. Brady has engineered nine fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs but just four of those came at home. Perhaps the most memorable of those New England comebacks outside of the Tuck Rule game, game on Jan. 10, 2015, against Baltimore. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 06: Tom Brady attends the 143rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)
Football: New England Patriots QB Tom Brady (12) and Rob Gronkowski (87) victorious after scoring touchdown during game vs Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, IN 11/16/2014 CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X158945 TK1 )
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers drops back to pass during the Super Bowl LV game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on February 7, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - APRIL 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady arrives backstage during the UFC 261 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 24, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
TOPSHOT - Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 after overtime. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers shakes hands with Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Chiefs after the regular season game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 29, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 08: Two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history Drew Brees (9) of the Saints and Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers share a few words of encouragement after the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 08, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
US President Joe Biden holds a jersey alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians (2nd R) and quarterback Tom Brady (R) during a ceremony honoring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football team for their Super Bowl LV Championship on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, July 20, 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
FOXBORO, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (C) takes a hit from Charles Woodson (R) of the Oakland Raiders on a pass attempt in the last two minutes of the game in their AFC playoff 19 January 2002 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 16-13 in overtime. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after their win over the St. Louis Rams 03 February, 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 for the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
When asked about the prospect of returning from retirement, specifically to replace a quarterback late in the season for a playoff team, Brady didn’t rule it out. He actually presented the NFL as the actual obstacle to a return, due to his ongoing attempt to buy a chunk of the Las Vegas Raiders.
He compared the idea to that of Michael Jordan, who returned to the NBA after a second retirement to play for the Washington Wizards, of which he owned a piece.
“I’m not opposed to it. I don’t know if they are going to let me if I become an owner of an NFL team. I don’t know, I’m always going to be in good shape, always be able to throw the ball, so, to come in for a little bit, like MJ coming back, I don’t know if they would let me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Brady also mentioned the Patriots and Raiders as possibilities for such a comeback, while VicBlends mentioned his hometown San Francisco 49ers.
That’s as much as Brady has entertained the possibility of a return since his little video on the beach, and comes a month after he posted a video of himself running a 40-yard dash. You could call these breadcrumbs for a potentially shocking return, but it’s also probably worth noting that “DeepCut” is produced by a production company called Shadow Lion.
What is Shadow Lion? Well, it happens to be co-founded by Brady and his longtime manager Ben Rawitz, with others, and is responsible for many of the ads you’ve seen Brady in over the past few years, as well as his well-coordinated social presence.
So Brady and his people are behind this podcast. And what would help a nascent podcast get exposure more than one of the most famous athletes in the world implying he could return from retirement a second time?
Serious or not, it’s clear that Brady will never stop hustling. It’s just more likely he’ll be hustling for Shadow Lion or Fox Sports, where he’s still set to begin broadcasting next season, than for an actual NFL team.
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